St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-01-01
GENERAL PARESiS.



invested in tho United States in asyl.
lums for the insane. To care for the
100. 900 unfortunates confined in these
institutions requires an annual expend-
iture of $2.O0O.OOO. This does not in
clude the feeble minded that are kept
in jails. almshouses and on poor farms.
nor those cared for BY friends at their
homes. Notwithstanding this showing.
the demand for more asylums is wide
spread, and the increase Of insanity II
alarming. Of all the forms Of mental
trouble known to the medical fraternity
none are more progressive or more
fatal than that of general paresis.
Though unknown prior to the year
1922 it has come to be one Of the most
common of the incurable disorders Of
the brain. 1t was first recognized - .
distinct disease by An eminent French
physician named Bayle. but the first
record Of typical case was made By
another Frenchman, named Caemeil,
in 1926. and to him is frequently
ascribei the credit of having been the
first to perceive it Il II the disorder
which not along ago struck down John
Mccullough. and which more recently
sent BARLEY Campbell to retirement
II the truth were known. it il not i'm.
probable that the early decay Of the
minds Of Fox. Davenport, De Bar aud
Keene could be traced to the same
mania. The cases of Mccullough and
Campbell are by no means rare. Similar
ones might be cited by scores. Under
its baneful influence men remarkable
for their providence. frugality and
clear-sightedness have squandered the
savings of lifetime in expensive and
chimerical schemes bred by their dis
eased intelligence. Il il regarded Is .
distinct disease physiologically. path
Ologically and psychologically. and is
supposed to have its seat in the cor
ticle part Of the brain. II is also
regarded rs . progressive disorder.
Both the mental and motor systems are
involved. and with the enfeebled
brain comes the delusions Of gran
deur that usually characterize the
maiady. Its victims. as = rule,
are men in good health. men Of
fine physique and strong mental cali
bre. middle-agcd. active-minded men
being the most susceptible otis attack.
As to its cause, DIR. A. <. Macdonald.
of the War.rs Island Insane Asylum.
says it is his opinion that great alco-
holic indulgence has much to do with
it. He also attributes its rapid in
crease among the American people to
anxiety and exhaustion. COnstitu-
tional troubles. such as scrOfula, are
also considered predisposing causes to
an attack. All depressing and degen-
Grating agencies. however, are in part
responsible for the disease. Unlike the
majority of asylum patients. . general
paretic does no; realize his position.
He is something more than . mono
maniac, and. in consequence OF his
1elusions. is often very sane madman.
Not long ago . we'll known variety
performer was stricken down with this
terrible disease, but could not be pre-
vailed upon to 60 to IN asylum One
day he was asked to take q ride. it
having been arranged that the driver
was to convey him to An asylum. and
when once inside the gate he would bo
forcibly detained. BY unknown means
the patient became aware of the intent
to incarcerate him. and when near the
asylum expressed . desire to drive.
The reins were given him and the
horse logged along until the asylum
was reached, when the gates were
opened and the driver proposed stop
ping for refreshments. The insane
man drove up to the superintendent
door. and a several attendants came
out he caught the sane man
who had been hired to drive
him to the place BY the arm and
shouted ''Sieze him! He is dangerous!'
and despite curses and protestatiOns
the wrong man was locked up and the
paretic drove OF in high glee. Like all
diseases general paresis has begin
ming and An end. At the outset q
change in the patients habits or man.
ners OF life are noticeable. Before it is
realized that he is insane. it will be ap-
parent that he 10 changed. The strang-
est part of the case 10 that those things
to which no has been accustomed to
most will be the first to which he be-
comes lost. II he is an actor his power
of study leaves him. II he has been
tailor he can no longer handle needle.
II sculptor or . painter all power
of using the tools of his art desert him.
The prudent man becomes prodigal.
the modest man boastful and the ro-
fined man coarse. Then comes the
loss of memory. That which occupies
his mind-Or. more properly speaking.
his attention-to-day, is tomorrow put
aside for something else. Finally his
speech is impaired and he stammers
and suffers like man that has had
too many pulls at the bottle. He be-
comes rsvcnous for food and drink and
seemingly never knows when he il sat-
isfied. He differs from the monomaniac
in another particular-he 10 not salts
fled with being . King or . Queen. he
proclaims himself God. the President.
King. Car. Duke. and viii appropriate
any other title that may be suggested
and believes himself 20 b the embodi-
ment Of them all at one and the same
time. Death 10 the only relief. Twenty
years ago the number Of insane people
in the United States was placed At
5000. In 1870 the census showed the
number had increased to 81. 500. and in
1880 the figure given as the insane pop
ulation Of this country was 100000.
Thus. while tho population in ton
years increased Is per cent, insanity
increased over 100 per cent Just what
percentage Of the whole 10 afflicted
with general paresis is not known, but
from reliable sources it is learned that
this terrible malady 10 much more fire.
quent than ID generally supposed. and
is increasing with alarming rspidity.-
" Z. Nol 0nd Express.